RJD protests ‘murder of democracy’ in Karnataka

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, registering his protest against the “murder of democracy” in Karnataka, will on Friday meet Governor Satyapal Malik and stake claim to form the Bihar government being the leader of the single largest party in the state Assembly.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders and workers staged dharnas across Bihar throughout the day to protest against Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s move on Wednesday inviting B.S. Yeddyurappa to form the government in that state despite falling short by eight seats to get a simple majority in the 224-member assembly.

In the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls, the RJD had emerged as the single largest party with 80 seats in the 243-member House.

Tejashwi Yadav along with his party MLAs was scheduled to march to the Raj Bhavan here this afternoon.

RJD’s ally Congress and Hindustani Awam Morcha of former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi have extended support to RJD in its protest.

Sitting along with his party leaders here, RJD state president Ram Chander Purve told the media that the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav along with HAM and Congress MLAs was expected to meet the Governor around 1 p.m. and stake claim to form the government.

“RJD is the single largest party in Bihar, if Bharatiya Janata Party got a chance to form the government in Karnataka, why would the RJD not be invited and why would there be separate yardsticks.”

Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday said: “We will request the Bihar Governor to dismiss the state government comprising of Janata Dal-United and the BJP, and invite the RJD to form the government,” he said.